Compass Rosy: g4 | from the rocking chair to the seats edge

Saturday, April 07, 2012

g4 | from the rocking chair to the seats edge

first SWEEP!
(unless this was supposed to be a continuation of the A's "home series" in Tokyo - in which case, we'll settle for 3/4)

Obviously, not Felix's best ever start (but, he'll take the win)...
Can you blame him?
He was a bit shocked and uncertain how to pitch with a large lead ;-)
Felix basically cruised through the first 3 innings, allowing only one hit (a single) and then his focus seem to stray a bit in the bottom of the 4th (after the M's scored 6 in the top of the inning) and he allowed the first two batters to reach via singles, they then advanced on a wild pitch to Cespedes and then he hit him to load the bases. Luckily, he escaped major damage that inning by only allowing a sac fly. The A's would continue to chip away at Felix, until a one time 7-0 lead had dwindled to 8-4 when he left in the 7th inning.

~ Enter, Lucas Luetge making his major league debut with two on and one out .... strike out!
~ Next up, Steve Delebar who threw a wild pitch and then gave up a 3-run homer to Cespedes
~Thankfully, Brandon's first SaveOp was converted

Getty Images

Figgy continues to go wild...
~ he led off the game with a triple on the EIGHTH pitch from Colon and scored on Ackley's ground out
~ he extended the big 4th inning by doubling in the M's 6th and 7th runs

Munenori Kawasaki made his ML debut (Ryan scratched prior to the game due to a stiff neck)...
~ he bowed to the 3B umpire as he took his spot at SS
~ and collected his first hit, first RBI and first run scored

Getty Images

Talk about balance...
~ EVERY batter had at least ONE hit (Figgy, Ichi, Seager all had multiple hits)
~ only two didn't record at least one RBI (Figgy had TWO)
~ only one didn't score a run

Then there was Michael's beautiful solo shot in the 6th...
it turned out to be the difference in the game!
So great to see Michael carrying his great spring over into the regular season - off a lefty even!